by Greg Seltzer - Most popular for December 2011
Viewing all posts which authors have tagged ‘by Greg Seltzer’.
You can also subscribe to this tag's feed.
The best answer for a new USMNT system? More of it, sooner. Now, we are actually fully designed to
make these leaps we like to to talk about. Claudio Reyna is THE MAN.And gosh, I did not even
recognize former Steamers goal monster Don Ebert at first.- Greg Seltzer
Merry Christmas to most of you out there, and a happy Chinese food meal to everyone else. For the
next-to-last day of goodie-palooza, let's get everybody up to speed with the curious case of Omar
Gonzalez.Of course, he's been reportedly linked to interest from teams on both sides of the
Atlantic drink, with some of teams named accurately and others not.
Let us not forget it's Chanukah, yo. Like any proper showcase, we've saved the juiciest morsel for
last. Fair warning, though, it is conditional.Remember how Teal Bunbury had a Bolton visit at least
temporarily nixed because of his Olympic camp call-up? Well, he wasn't the only one in Florida last
week with scuttled plans.
You know what's in the pudding, right?- Greg Seltzer
Yes, I'm taking a mini-break, but I wanted to share this important post from Prost Amerika. If
there is one concept I admire and value above all others, it is fearless honesty. I'd say this fits
that category.In the post, former RSL and St. Pauli defender Ian Joy shares a very personal story
about his prior struggles with depression.
US Soccer has given Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) until Monday to find a sixth team. You may
recall that the league's Board of Governors recently voted to expel Dan Borislow's Boca Raton-based
magicJack from the league. The relationship between Borislow and WPS has been fairly
roller-coaster-esque from the start.
The U.S. U-17's in action from yesterday...- Greg Seltzer
With his side down one, Jozy Altidore has bagged an insistent 20th minute equalizer from some
dreamy combo play with Brett Holman. While we wait for the clip, let's just see if he's got any
more in him today...- Greg Seltzer
With his side down one, Jozy Altidore has bagged an insistent 20th minute equalizer from some
dreamy combo play with Brett Holman.FYI: He now has five on the Eredivisie season (in the 14th of
the 34 matches) and 11 across all competitions - well on pace to both fulfill my promise of 10
league goals and put him one short of a third place tie with DaMarcus Beasley in the category of
goals in a
I suppooooose the last post could have waited until the delightful highlights of the U.S.
Under-17's duel with Brazil yesterday surfaced. What can I say? I got all excited. And this is
worth a wait...- Greg Seltzer
Clint Dempsey has tapped home a spilled Danny Murphy shot with five minutes remaining to put Fulham
up 1-0 on 10-man visitors Liverpool. It was his fourth goal of the EPL season and sixth across all
competitions this term.- Greg Seltzer
The 2011 Generation adidas tour team will be special guests at the key Ajax v Real Madrid Champions
League Matchday 6 tilt tomorrow night. I will be talking to a couple of those MLS rising stars
before they head down to the game, and then more throughout their stay in the Netherlands.And just
to tantalize you a little further, tomorrow's Postcard From Europe subject is none other than
white-hot
The latest edition of our new NSC custom acts as annex to today's Postcard From Europe with Big Bad
Brad.On whether he could take over as cup goalie should they reach the late stages or a final:"That
hasn't been discussed. We have a great group of goalkeepers, so there's no way that would be
discussed.
I've wrestled back and forth for hours on how to address last night's simultaneous Champions League
incidents in Amsterdam and Zagreb, obviously because of the team short-strawed with the outcomes. I
have decided that it cannot be avoided. I suppose that I will just have to speak as objectively as
my reputation allows.
As promised, the annexed quotes from my chat with the Generation adidas squad member...On battling
hard to stand out during talent-filled US Olympic camps: "That's all you can do. Go out there and
just give whatever you've got in any situation they give you. Hopefully, they like you and call you
back.
We told you it was coming, and here it is (no Teal Bunbury visit to Bolton now?). Olympic boss
Caleb Porter is now on the job and has summoned 28 players to Florida pre-Christmas. There are
several new faces, including Freddy Adu, Will Bruin, two keepers fresh off EPL training visits a
pair of Duke players and the re-emergence of Bryan Arguez.
Not only is Brad Guzan set for his first EPL start tomorrow, it seems the club are ready to ensure
he doesn't run out of contract for a while longer than June.Anybody else going to watch this one? I
sure am. Without trying to seem like a joy profiteer from Shay Given's misfortune, Guzan has
well-earned this shot (and a certain other one, as well).
The last American starter of the day is the first to ring the bell; Sporting CP defender Oguchi
Onyewu was the star of the first half, most notably due to nodding home the 1-0 on 22 minutes. The
game is now at halftime, so it could be a while before the clip surfaces.- Greg Seltzer
Fourth time's a charm as the North Carolina Tar Heels finally won their second NCAA crown - in my
old stomping ground of suburban Birmingham on a field I've trod many times, no less.- Greg Seltzer
With all due respect to Abed Nadir, at Hammarby, it's now Gregg Berhalter.- Greg Seltzer
It's my blog and I can do what I want at any time - and at this time I want to boast, boast, boast!
On Saturday, my brother and his wife completed my awesome niece treble in fine fashion, finally
giving the world Audrey (who not only sleeps as constantly as her daddy, she has his
"promptness").With her joining sisters Sam and Courtney (r-l), I am now equipped with an
unstoppable niece army of
Both Filham's Clint Dempsey and Anderlecht's Sacha Kljestan have bagged first half goals to put
their sides on the board in Europa League Matchday 6 action (and each's side has subsequently added
a second).The man they call Deuce deposited a redirected cross for his third Europa League strike
of the tourney edition and fifth in his career.
I love it... Landon Donovan on Moysie's side - Part Deux.- Greg Seltzer
Down to the nitty gritty now, it's time for a refresh on this page.Champions LeagueRound of 16David
Yelldell - Bayer Leverkusen v BarcelonaEuropa LeagueRound of 32Jozy Altidore - AZ v AnderlechtSteve
Cherundolo - Hannover 96 v Club BruggeJermaine Jones - Schalke v FK Viktoria PlzeňSacha Kljestan -
Anderlecht v AZOguchi Onyewu - Sporting CP v Legia Warsaw- Greg Seltzer
We've got two goals to talk about today, but thus far only one clip. While we're waiting on the
video of Carlos Bocanegra's opener in a Rangers win, let's laud Clint Dempsey for his opener in
Fulham's much-needed win. The U.S. star now has three goals in the last four games, taking his
season total across all competitions up to eight.
Been a little under the weather this weekend, so I've been moving slowly - another way of saying
sleep all day. I nearly plum forgot about the owed Carlos Bocanegra goal clip and took a while to
notice Tony Taylor's strike in a losing cause on Sunday. It's now Monday, which means tons to do,
which means quit the moaning and get 'er done.
I have finally just confirmed that the reported interest from Stuttgart for Timmy Chandler is real,
as was a recent report about Wolfsburg's crush. However, the impression I get is that the former
are more eager to land him... but also less likely to do so this winter. I found this all out when
hearing about a New York-born Japan youth international left back wanted by the Schwabians (who
clearly
I was tracking this, but clearly doing do slightly late: Edson Buddle's agent just tweeted (sweet
Moses, I hate that website) that his client is set to trial at West Ham United. It seems the new
Ingolstadt coach is looking to shed payroll, hence the early winter vacation for the US
international.Don't worry, I still have enough to complete the eight days of goodies for you.
It's after midnight where I am, so consider yourselves served again.Truth be told, though, I may be
forced into giving you a double goodie on this day. I've got one you're gonna enjoy with an oven
timer threatening to ding on me.Also, we need someone to come up with a proper name for our winter
silly season holiday, as "Festivus" is taken.
However, I need to jump in here real quick. A Swedish report or two from last night ran that U. of
Virginia forward Brian Span was signing with Örebro. It makes sense as he trialed there this
summer and the club liked him.However, I have great reason to believe he is actually joining
Djurgårdens IF.
Forced goodie, it is - just not for the reason I'd anticipated. Mexican tabloids have sniffed a
little something out and ran wild with bemus-able imagination on it, claiming Puebla are in
advanced talks to sign an American they figure is either Juan Agudelo or Daniel Williams.Little
girl not having it is wondering: "Is that the best they could come up with?
It's been a busy day, but I'm finally here with your "fourth day of (TBD)" goodie. Actually... it's
an effect-delayed goodie.The other day, U.S. Under-17 playmaker Alejandro Guido completed his
second visit to Vitesse. During his six weeks there, he often trained with the first team and
played some friendlies with the reserves.
What else is there to say? If you don't know what I'm talking about, here it is from tonight's KNVB
Cup match at Amsterdam ArenA: the hooligan field invasion that spawned the red card to AZ keeper
Estaban Alvarado that made Gertjan pull his team off that saw this contest suspended with Ajax up
1-0 a few minutes before intermission.
A regular NSC email-writer just jokingly asked me how long it took to research the assists portion
of today's Running The Numbers edition of Postcard From Europe, kindly suggesting I may have some
treatable psycho-soccer disorder.A: Best I can recall/estimate, somewhere between nine and a dozen
hours.
It's been a strange December for Ajax, to say the least. I could do a whole other post on a
wackiness rundown, but let's gather focus and get back into the rubble from last night's suspended
Ajax v AZ cup match.I had a few words to say and you've added in some of yours. Now, let's hear
some morning after comments from the folks involved.
As if it couldn't get crazier, Ajax has filed a police report with the finding that last night's
jerkface pitch invader should have never been allowed into the stadium. The 19-year old was already
handed a stadium ban for prior trouble with stewards. As it turns out, this fantastically stupid
person has set himself for criminal charges well beyond what I originally anticipated thanks to his
Like moaning and whining and pitching fits over Klinsi's January call-ups!!! YAY!!!!G - Bill Hamid
(D.C. United), Sean Johnson (Chicago Fire), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)D - Geoff Cameron (Houston
Dynamo), A.J. DeLaGarza (L.A. Galaxy), Omar Gonzalez (L.A. Galaxy), George John (FC Dallas), Zach
Loyd (FC Dallas), Michael Parkhurst (FC Nordsjaelland), Heath Pearce (Chivas USA)M - Kyle Beckerman
(
While also announcing that the referee had acted properly, the KNVB rescinded Estaban Alvarado's
red card. No word yet about the status of the suspended game.- Greg Seltzer
Remember back at the start of November when I wrote that the USMNT will be visiting Genoa to play
Italy at the end of February?That remains so, but I've been told by an Azzurri birdie to expect
that game's announcement in early January. Expect my travel menu to include items such as this...-
Greg Seltzer
We picked up bad mojo somewhere. Maybe it was something I ate, I don't know. Whatever the
supernatural cause, our month of weirdness rolls right along with a Jermaine Jones to-do quickly
brewing over in Germany. Soccer America's Paul Kennedy gives the succinct yet full info and feel
for the situation sparked by the Schalke man's midweek DFB-Pokal madness here.
